Macau: Anti-independence declaration ‘unnecessary and inopportune’

Lawmaker Pereira Coutinho has reacted negatively to the possibility of a new Legislative Assembly (AL) Electoral Law, which would demand that candidates declare their abstention from any possible pro-independence movement.
In comments to Radio Macau last Friday, the lawmaker classified the requirement as “unnecessary” and “inopportune.”
Coutinho stated that he does not “think there is a need in Macau that justifies the participants in the election to […] make any statement, because the situation [of separatist movements] that exists in Hong Kong does not exist in Macau,” he said.
The possibility of such a requirement came to light after comments made by the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Sónia Chan, regarding a similar rule recently introduced by the Hong Kong’s Electoral Affairs Commission. The rule drew criticism from many sectors of society, namely pro-democracy groups and parties.
In her comments to the press, Secretary Chan had not ruled out the chance that an identical requirement could be adopted in the MSAR. She said the discussion on the matter would be up to the Electoral Affairs Commission for the Legislative Assembly Election.  RM